Lost Files of Sherlock Holmes 1 (a.k.a. Case of the Serrated Scalpel) screenshots:

The Lost Files of Sherlock Holmes - The Case of the Serrated Scalpel is a verb-based point-and-click graphic adventure game.

"Come, Watson, come! The game is afoot!"

London, 1888. Sherlock Holmes, the world's most famous private investigator, and his faithful companion Dr. Watson, are called to the scene of a gruesome crime: a young actress has been murdered in an alley behind her theatre. Not surprisingly, Scotland Yard's Inspector Lestrade is clueless. Was it the work of the Ripper? Sherlock Holmes is not so sure -- the circumstantial evidence indicates a much more intricate crime. The shrewd detective begins the hunt.

The Lost Files of Sherlock Holmes is a classical crime story with two distinguished, sympathetic protagonists. In the role of Sherlock Holmes, you travel through London in the search for clues. Interesting locations are gradually added to a city map. Your most important source of information are dialogues with suspects, witnesses and other people - and with Dr. Watson, who will readily comment on the situation. When talking to persons, you may chose one of several lines that seems most appropriate. Watson notes down all conversations in his journal, where you can access them if needed. Pleasingly true to the novels, Holmes will solve many puzzles through sharp observations and thorough searches of every location (thus discovering clues and deducing connections) as well as clever interrogations.

The handling of the game by means of verbs is simple and accurate. Readers of the Sherlock Holmes stories will recognize many acquaintances, from Lestrade to Miss Hudson, from Inspector Gregson to Toby the hound. The game's introduction, cut-scenes and ending feature digitized speech.

The lost files of sherlock holmes has got to be one of my favorite murder mystery games. Of course, that is probably because of the story, as the thought of the worlds greatest detective matching wits with the worlds greatest villain is intriquing. That, and I have always been a fan of murder mysteries.

In this 1992 game by Mythos Software you play as Sherlock Holmes and his friend Doctor Watson as they investigate the brutal murder of an actress behind London's Regency Theatre. Scotland Yard seems to think that the murder was committed by Jack the Ripper as the entire murder stinks of his handiwork. Holmes, of course, thinks differently. The task in the game is to find out if or if not this the work of Jack the Ripper and catch the culprit.

The gameplay in the game is quite fun and some of the puzzles can be quite difficult. One of puzzles requires you to play a game of darts in order to learn some information. Careful examination of everything and using anything will, like many adventure games, lead you in the right direction.

All in all, this is a game that mystery and adventure game fans should really play.

While not the first computer detective game, The Lost Files of Sherlock Holmes nonetheless advanced the genre through its use of the Sherlock Holmes investigative methods, from interviewing witnesses to lab analysis. The Player, as Sherlock Holmes, is engaged by Scotland Yard to help with the murder investigation of a young actress. While the manner of her death suggests this is another strike by Jack the Ripper, Holmes believes someone else had committed the crime...

The Player, as Sherlock Holmes, is engaged by Scotland Yard to help with the murder investigation of a young actress. While the manner of her death suggests this is another strike by Jack the Ripper, Holmes believes someone else had committed the crime. The investigation takes Holmes and Watson to many parts of late 19th Century London, including a perfume shop, the zoological gardens, the morgue, a pub, several dwellings, an abandoned dock and of course 221B Baker Street.

The graphics are VGA, with MIDI music and a few scenes with digitalized speech (in the other scenes there are sound effects, but no speech). The player interacts with the characters through a command menu that is intuitive for anyone who had played other adventure games of the period. A manual exists but is not necessary.

Arguably the best games starring the world's most famous fictional detective, Lost Files of Sherlock Holmes 1 and 2 are similar: while the plot, writing, graphics, are all first-rate, most puzzles-- especially the just-click-and-watch lab sequences in Serrated Scalpel-- "lead" you to their solutions without requiring much thought. Fortunately the sequel Rose Tattoo boasts better puzzles and graphics, and a much longer plot. Holmes' fans will enjoy untangling both the Jack-the-Ripper-lookalike mystery, and the Diogenes Club bombing in which Holme's brother, Mycroft, is mortally wounded. Despite banal puzzles that hardly merits the attention of the world's foremost detective, the games' well-written plot and faitthful recreation of Holmesian London make the games worthwhile. So come, Watson, the game's afoot!